Afuri Tokyo Ramen Shop Looks to Be Coming to Portland

This is every ramen head's wet-noodle dream.

By Matthew Korfhage

Some of the best ramen in Tokyo looks to be coming to Portland.

The city of Portland has received a liquor license application for what appears to be the first American outpost of iconic Tokyo ramen shop Afuri, whose original outpost in Tokyo's Ebisu district is still broadly considered one of the greatest ramen shops in Japan, with lines that stretch around the block.

The address on the application is 921 SE 7th Ave., in a newly refurbished warehouse building in the central eastside.

Afuri is best known for its chicken-stock yuzu shio—essentially citrus-flavored salt broth, kind of like the ramen equivalent of a gose beer. It first opened in 2005, and has since expanded to multiple locations in Tokyo.

This is not the first Japanese ramen chain to expand first into Portland. Portland is already home the first continental United States location of Japanese izakaya chain Shigezo and an early American outpost of ramen chain Kukai. Our city will soon also be home to the first outpost of Marukin at the new Pine Street Market opening this year.

Afuri, however, marks a significant step up in prestige, for Portland's role as Japan's American test kitchen for ramen.

The liquor license application promises a huge 92-seat restaurant, with an additional 13 bar seats, and late hours until midnight weekdays and 2 am weekends.

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